Kyary Pamyu Pamyu ~ Nanda Collection

 

Sadly I am quite busy this week due to work and other miscellaneous things, and so this will not be a full reflection on this album; but merely a slight overview. 

 For those who are new to Kyary, if you have enjoyed groups like Perfume and Capsule (all produced by Nakata, that guy sure gets around) this will be a joyous occasion indeed. Her inane lyrics and ridiculous fashion sense lend to a light and cheerful mood that is powered by electronic production.

Kyary's new album "Nanda Collection" is not quite "new". Sure, it has been released fairly recently, but a majority of the tracks have been taken from her previous single; with only two new songs being put in. However, should you skip this album? If you enjoy J-Pop and Kyary, no, no you should not. It is a collection of her previous works, and includes what I would say are her best songs. This is the album to have if you do not posses any of her previous works (with exception to 'tsukematsukeru', seriously grab that one it is great).

Madeon

It's 2:30am, and all I can think about is "Wow, this kid is fucking amazing". This is not an album review, or even a track review. This is just a rant, a preach, a lecture if you will. What this kid is doing for the Electro House world is superb, and at the age of 17 Madeon is taking the dance world by storm. Not too much is known about him, or what he is going to be doing. But I can say that I am excited as hell. I mean, if this kid can take such a terrible, horrible, shitty wreck of a song like "Raise Your Weapon" by Deadmau5 and turn it into a work of art, there is a lot to look forward to. Do yourself a favor and start listening to his work, you won't regret it.

Listen
LISTEN
LISTEN!!!!

Bibio - Mind Bokeh (2011)

Most excellent.

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Download

eRikm - Lux Payllettes (2010)

Suck a dick Girl Talk.

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Cut Copy - Zonoscope (2011)

Zonoscope, Cut Copy's third studio album, is in many retrospects the ideal follow-up to the pop masterpiece that was In Ghost Colours. While retaining their sound, Cut Copy have kept it fresh by using more varied song structures and changing the album flow. Where In Ghost Colours flowed smoothly with short-medium length summer jams, Zonoscope introduces more lengthy tunes with crescendos and big climaxes. The vibe, however, remains the same.

'Need You Now' was a surprising opener to me, mainly due to lead singer Dan Whitford's deeper vocals. This varied pitch combined with heavier synths on songs such as 'Need You Now' and 'Blink and You'll Miss A Revolution' introduces a darker sound to the music, showcasing the band's post-punk influences more distinctively. 'Take Me Over' and 'Pharoahs & Pyramids', the two most IGC-like tracks on the album, maintain the classic Cut Copy feel to add nice variation and contrast. And the song that got people's expectations spinning, the 15-minute album closer 'Sun God', doesn't disappoint. It starts off with a thumping bass and a talking heads-like vibe, before going somewhere else altogether ("epic space disco" seems to be a popular term).

While Zonoscope is missing that little bit of atmospheric magic that In Ghost Colours had, it has its own feeling of vastness that makes it a worthwhile listen. It's definitely more of an homage to post-punk and the darker side of new wave as opposed to the happy pop feel of IGC. Something I feel I should add, it seems to be a grower. I enjoyed it much more on the second listen than on the first.

Buy it

Wiki

Charanjit Singh - Synthesizing: Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat (2010)

This is definitely one of the most anachronistic and geographically confusing records I've heard. At first listen, it may seem like a bold new career move by Aphex Twin or some other electronic visionary. But this is an original work recorded by Bollywood composer Charanjit Singh in 1982 that wasn't widely known in India, much less the world at large, until recently.

I won't try to get into the technical aspects of the record that make Ten Ragas a newly-heralded precursor of acid house because I'm no expert on the subject. But it's apparent that it's not just an oddity but also a fusion of the hypnotic acid and ancient Indian melodies. This fusion is pretty seamless and doesn't feel gimmicky at all, even though Singh was trying to cash in on the increasing popularity of electronic music in India.

The title tells you all you need to know about the album. It does consist of ten Ragas and they are actually set to a Disco beat. The synthesizer translates the lilting rhythms of Raga perfectly and the production quality isn't hindered at all by the fact that it was made 30 years ago in a third world country. The synth rhythms pulsate brilliantly throughout the album but Raga Madhuvanti is the highlight for me personally.

Regardless of whether or not it's a harbinger of acid, Ten Ragas can't be denied as a successful union of past and present and east and west.

Buy

Download

Last.fm

Tomáš Dvořák - Machinarium (2009)

Machinarium is an unusual indie game brought into the gaming world by a small recently established Czech independent studio called Amanita Design. Machinarium is a triumph of an outstanding game design, a retro universe full of complicated mechanical constructions. The fact that it has no dialogue at all makes the soundtrack to the game all that much more important.

At its heart the Machinarium soundtrack is an electronic album, creating an enveloping environment of sound that conjures up images of very simple, decaying machines. But it runs the gamut from beautiful, lush ambient arrangements with simple instrumentation, to catchy electro dance music, to childlike melodies.

Download

Buy (game included)

Stellar OM Source - Trilogy Select (2010)

Short review since I'm in a hurry, but what you're looking at is more excellent drone/electronic/experimental in the style of Oneohtrix Point Never. Christelle Gualdi makes nice soundscapes under this handle, using four selections each from three albums of hers released in 2009. Very 80s nostalgic-like. "Rites of Fusion" is a collab with Daniel Lopatin/Oneohtrix Point Never. "Island Best" has this really awesome video.

Try it
Buy it (ctrl + F "trilogy select")
MySpace

Sweet Trip - Velocity : Design : Comfort (2003)

Since all we've had up lately was "best of" lists, I think it's about time we get a new album posted. This is just a really enjoyable record from a band that knows how to make great electronic and dream pop music. The songs feel very spacey and diverse, and no song sounds like the very next. On some songs, such as the intro it sounds sort of like a Venetian Snares CD but on others you get a glitchy sort of "Loveless" feel from it like my favorite track "Fruitcake and Cookies". The flip flopping that goes on here feels almost abrupt but it all adds to the overrall feel of the album. It's probably a love it or hate it album, for some it would sound fragmented to a fault, yet for others it could that album that grabs your attention right back everytime it manages to lose it. It's definitely something everyone should try out though.

FLAC (Cause the FLAC was too big for Mediafire)

MP3

Buy

Last.fm | Myspace | RYM

Flexe - Programmable Love Songs Vol. 1 (2004)

Benn Jordan goes by many names, The Flashbulb (which he is commonly known as) and many others including Acidwolf and Human Action Network. Under his Flashbulb alias he would typically release drill 'n' bass or Breakcore type albums, however as Flexe the music is much more laid back and this quote from the song Fox Paw describes the feel of this album:

'well, you know that the phenomenon called sound is a wave in the air, pulsing at a certain speed, now these waves kick the eardrums and then turn into vibrations, which the brain translates into what we call... acid.'

Download

Sample

The Seedy Seeds- Count the Days (2008)

Take one banjo, a strand of Christmas lights, some electronic beats, two awesome beards, and a Tina Fey lookalike and you get the foundation of The Seedy Seeds, an indie-folk-pop band from Cincinnati, Ohio. I discovered The Seedy Seeds when I saw them play a show at a record store in the fall of 2009 and I wasn't quite sure what to think at first. There were some sort of synthesized beats coming from somewhere I couldn't see. Their drummer used a very minimal set wrapped in Christmas lights that flashed every time he hit a drum or symbol. One of their singers was a woman who kind of looked like Tina Fey dressed in what looked like black nurse's scrubs who alternated between guitar, synth, and tambourine. Their other singer was a balding guy with a beard and a banjo. I assumed they were some sort of novelty band that was just goofing off. But then when I listened more closely I realized they were not that in any way. Their songs were filled with emotion and were very well-written and they were being performed pretty well too. (Is that passive voice killing you? Well suck it.) This is the kind of music that can make you want to move and sing along at once. Or you can lie down in a quiet room and enjoy it just as much.

I can't help but get a nostalgic feel from this album. You don't have to look farther than song titles such as "Winter '04" or "My Roots Go Down" to think that there's something these three are reminiscing about. Plus it's called Count the Days so there's already the theme of time there. When I listen to it I feel at ease, as if I'm experiencing something familiar that I've experienced before. All from an original sound I've never heard anywhere else.


Stream/Buy
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Official Site | MySpace | last.fm

Dert - Talk Strange (2009)

Whenever I make a 2009 list, I always forget this tape. I guess that's to be expected since it was released on New Years and I still had a "2008" mindstate, but I can't believe I keep forgetting this since it's probably one of my favorite releases this year.

Dert is best known in the underground hip-hop circuit for his mash up tapes made of samples from various artists. On this one he decided to use primarily Bjork samples throughout the entire album, which basically sounds heavenly. It has a nice cool feel which like a lot of Bjork's music too. So since I love Bjork so much, naturally I thought this album was great, not to mention it's free so all you reading this have no reason not to pick this one up.


Last.fm | Download | Myspace (If people still use that)

Dirty Tactics- It Is What It Is (2010)

Philadelphia's Dirty Tactics are a band to look out for this year. They are gaining notoriety as one of the more exciting young bands on the punk market right now. Now, I wouldn't technically call them punk, I would slide them more to indie category. Dirty Tactics are known for their catchy melodies and sing along choruses. It Is What It Is starts off with an audio clip from an interview with The Clash about why punk rock was started. I found it kind of odd to start an album in this way but it works for this band. This band is all about melodic punk rock. My personal favorite being the track Baltimore. Baltimore starts off with a fantastic riff that just sucked me into the song. What follows is a tale of the band detailing a trip to Baltimore, at one point where they shout out "So what am I doing in South Philadelphia". The track truly was the highlight of the album for me. We also see some other genres mixed in this album.

In Side Of The Road, we are given an acoustic song with almost a Tenor vibe as one of the band's members belts out the lyrics with vibrato. The song then transits to a gritty punk feeling. My other personal favorite song on the album is Train Song, a soft relaxing melodic beauty of a song. "I missed the train again, I fell asleep at the station" It just wants you to just sit down and soak in the song and you do. We also see some electronic sounds used in Train Song. It is almost MGMT inspired. Arkansas is a mellow ditty that just flows nicely. The whole album is pretty smooth. Dirty Tactics are truly a unique band and should be heard. The album ends with the amazingly slow and smooth song Blind Man. "I'm painting you a picture with words, but you'll never see it". But Dirty Tactics have painted us a great album. If you like melodic punk music, take my recommendation and give Dirty Tactics a try.

Track Listing

--------------

1. "When You Wake Up"- 1:51

2. "Baltimore"-2:24

3. "The Process"-1:57

4. "Side of the Road"-3:09

5. "Train Song"-3:06

6. "Highway Robbery"-2:01

7. "Secret Lives"-3:33

8. "Arkansas"-2:06

9. "It Is What It Is"-3:26

10. "Blind Man"-2:42

Baltimore (free download)

Myspace

Try It

Buy It

Panda Bear - Tomboy 7" (2010)

oh my dear god

"Tomboy" is good/decent, but "Slow Motion" is amazing. Don't have a top ten on me in terms of best tracks from 2010, but it's threatening.

I'll let you have your own opinions.

Try it
Buy it
MySpace
Wiki

Hopefully we won't get Web Sheriff'd over this.

Supersilent-6 (2003)

Lost my review :'(

Don't feel like typing it up again, but here's a brief description:


Supersilent 6 was recorded during a 5 day studio session at Athletic Sound in Halden, Norway, the all analogue facility where other important Rune Grammofon albums like "Supersilent 1-3" (RCD 2001) and "Scorch Trio" (RCD 2025) were made. From the monumental hardcore blizzard storm of "1-3" to the elegant electrojazz of "4" and the almost quiet soundscapes of "5", this new album is where the sum of Supersilent comes together in a shape of almost epic proportions.

Again, the names of the players do not appear on the cover. This is Supersilent music, collective work, group improvising, and not a matter of individual grandstanding. They never rehearse as a group and don't discuss the music with each other, meeting only to play concerts or to record. Supersilent music lives in a no-man's-land between the genres, somewhere between rock, electronica, jazz and modern composition. In fact, much of the music on "6" appears to be written or at least arranged, again making it clear that these musicians communicate on a high, almost telepatic level. Needless to say, there are no overdubs. Everything is presented as it was performed in the studio.

Often being labelled jazz because of the improvising nature of the music and the fact that three of the members come from a jazz background, with "6" they are just as likely to attract followers of rock bands such as Goodspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Ros, King Crimson and (late) Talk Talk.

Supersilent was formed in Oslo in 1997 after producer and soundartist Helge Sten approached free jazz trio "Veslefrekk" with the idea of forming a new quartet. The first time they played together was a concert at Bergen Jazz Festival the same year. Their first album, the triple set "1-3" was released in early 98, also being the first release in the Rune Grammofon catalogue.

http://www.supersilence.net/recordings/supersilent6.htm


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Download(FLAC)
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Wiki

Kele - The Boxer (2010)

Kele, better known as Kele Okereke, the lead singer of the British alternative band Bloc Party, debuted his first ever solo album, The Boxer, on June 22nd for the Glass Note Label. Bloc Party are currently “on hiatus” which has given Kele time to experiment and create a body of his own solo work. Those who are expecting a more “alternative” sounding album in the same vain as a Bloc Party album, such as Silent Alarm, are in for a surprise. The Boxer is best described as a dance/electronic pop album. Kele really distances himself from what most people know him for, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I personally like it when an artist isn’t afraid to dabble and experiment in genres out of his or her “comfort level”. That being said, The Boxer is a decent debut for Kele, but the album is somewhat inconsistent, there are tracks that really just blend into one-another without anything really sticking out such as “New Rules” and “All The Things I Could Never Say”. On the other hand, I really enjoyed “Tenderoni”, the first single off the album, “Rise” which is more downbeat than some of the songs but has pretty powerful lyrics, and "On The Lam” which has a beat that is almost trance inducing. Although The Boxer can be inconsistent at times, I would suggest giving it a listen, if not for only a few good tracks. This is a solid step in the right direction in a promising solo career, especially with Bloc Party being on hiatus.

Buy (From iTunes)
Download
Kele's Official Website
Last.fm

Oneohtrix Point Never - Zones Without People (2009)

It seems to me like Daniel Lopatin, the one-man force behind Oneohtrix Point Never (pronounced: own-e-oh-tricks), would be an excellent poster boy for hypnosis. The first track on Zones Without People, "Computer Vision", pulls you into an excellent lull of arpeggiated chords over its two-minute span. The next track, "Format and Journey North", sets into a nine-minute long drone-type song, using (what I believe to be) more arpeggiation throughout the song.

The entire album is very good, and it's a short and sweet album, clocking in at just 31 minutes. Lopatin released this album on a compilation entitled Rifts, which has this album, Russian Mind, and Betrayed in the Octagon; some parts of the compilation has tracks dating back as far as 2003. Lopatin has quickly been gaining attention in the music world with his latest album, Returnal. To me, though, this is probably his best pre-Returnal work. Worth repeated listens.

Try it
Not available to buy as of right now; check out the distributors listed
MySpace
Official website